Rap career:
Mos Def began his performing career on the television show The Cosby Mysteries in 1994. In 1994, Mos also began his music career, forming the short-lived group Urban Thermo Dynamics (UTD) with his younger brother DCQ and his younger sister Ces. Despite being signed to Payday Records, the group only released two singles and the group's debut album, Manifest Destiny, did not see the light of day until 2004 when released through Illson Media. In 1996 he emerged as a solo artist, working with De La Soul and Da Bush Babees before releasing his own first single, "Universal Magnetic" which was a huge underground hit. After signing with Rawkus Records, he and Talib Kweli released a full length album under the band name Black Star, entitled Black Star. It was released in 1998, with Hi-Tek producing most of the tracks. Mos Def released his solo debut, Black on Both Sides, in 1999. Filled with tracks raving about his hometown, Brooklyn and his love for Hip-Hop, Black on Both Sides also deals with racial profiling of Black men in America, with the track Mr Nigga. Mos Def was also featured on Rawkus' influential The Lyricist Lounge and Soundbombing series compilations. After the collapse of Rawkus, Def along with Kweli signed on to Interscope/Geffen Records, who released his second album The New Danger in 2004. In early 2005 Mos Def was rumored to join Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella record label, but this was later denied by the artist himself claiming "Jay-Z and Roc-A-Fella would never allow me to release songs I plan on putting out there. I ain't down with that commercial non-sense. I'm about to deal with the fake with my next album, from George Bush to 50 Cent." But, after making that comment, Mos Def was featured rapping on a SUV commercial, endorsing the GMC Denali. Mos Def is projected to release his last solo album on Geffen Records, The Undeniable Free Flaco in early 2006. His 4th studio album The Ecstatic was released June 9, 2009 on Downtown Records. It serves as Mos Def's second highest charting album to date. Upon its release, The Ecstatic received general acclaim from most music critics, and it earned Mos Def a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap Album. Rolling Stone magazine named it the seventeenth best album of 2009.
Impact on hip-hop
The artistic boundaries of hip-hop and rap music had been redefined by artists such as Brand Nubian, De La Soul, and Public Enemy, whose music was more thematically sophisticated and socially conscious than that of their predecessors. By the early 1990s however, this brand of rap had been eclipsed in popularity by gangsta rap. Socially aware rap music (alternative hip hop) has experienced something of a renaissance in the late 1990s and now the 2000s, in part due to artists such as Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Common, The Roots and others. "Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are … Blackstar" Mos Def's collaboration with Talib Kweli was released during the aftermath of the deaths of 2pac and The Notorious B.I.G. sparking a rebirth of "aware" and "intelligent" hip-hop. Def's music often references his Islamic faith and his contention that black artists receive little credit for their role in the birth of rock and roll music.
On Mos Def's 2004 album The New Danger, the rapper took his penchant for experimentation to a new level. Most of the songs were more hip-hop flavored stylings of Blues and Rock, with few actual raps thrown in. This threw off fans who were expecting another full-blown rap album. The New Danger also featured the controversial song "The Rape Over", a parody of Jay-Z's The Blueprint hit "The Takeover":
old white men is runnin this rap shit
corporate forces runnin this rap shit
some tall israeli is runnin this rap shit
we poke out our asses for a chance to cash in
cocaine, is runnin this rap shit
'dro, 'yac and e-pills is runnin this rap shit...
mtv is runnin this rap shit
viacom is runnin this rap shit
aol and time warner runnin this rap shit...
quasi-homosexuals is runnin this rap shit
The lyrics would seem to have chafed with higher-placed executives, who made Mos take the song off of later releases of the album, supposedly for "sample clearance issues".
In September 2005, Mos Def released the single "Katrina Clap" (utilizing the instrumental for Juvenile's "Nolia Clap"), a critical reaction to the lack of response by the Bush administration to the Hurricane Katrina disaster. He probably chose the "Nolia Clap" instrumental because the rapper Juvenile hails from New Orleans, and the song was a hit in the New Orleans area before the hurricane.
Mos Def also collaborated with Kanye West on West's track named "two words" and appeared in the music video.
Acting career
The first years of the 2000s have established Mos Def as a notable actor. His performances in Brown Sugar, Monster's Ball, and the HBO made-for-TV film Something The Lord Made have been particularly acclaimed by critics. Having been nominated for several awards, Mos finally broke through, winning Best Actor, Independent Movie at the 2005 Black Reel Awards for his portrayal of Sgt. Lucas in The Woodsman. He also landed the role of Ford Prefect in the long-awaited 2005 movie adaption of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Notably, in 2002 he played the role of Booth in Suzan-Lori Parks' Topdog/Underdog, a Tony-nominated and Pulitzer-winning Broadway play. He has also been a musical guest and participated in many skits on Comedy Central's Chappelle's Show.
In 2004, he hosted the MOBO awards in London, after the original presenter, Pharrell Williams pulled out at the last minute.
He has been the host of the award-winning spoken word show Def Poetry Jam since its inception. The show's sixth season aired in February 2007.
Discography
* 1998 Black Star (released with Talib Kweli under the name Black Star) Priority Records
* 1999 Black on Both Sides Rawkus Records
* 2004 The New Danger Geffen
o nominated for Best Urban/Alternative
Performance, 47th Annual Grammy Awards
* 2006 True Magic
* 2009 THE Ecstatic Downtown Records
* 2010 Mos Dub
Selected Filmography
* Cadillac Records (2009)
* Be Kind Rewind (2008)
* Talladega Nights (2006) (a quick cameo)
* Dreamgirls (2006)
* Bobby (2006)
* The Brazilian Job (2006) (pre-production)
* 16 Blocks (2006)
* The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005).
* Lackawanna Blues (2005)
* Something the Lord Made (2004)
o nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie, 56th Annual Emmy Awards
o nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television, 62nd Annual Golden Globe Awards
* Chapelle Show (? year) - Black Delegation Rep for Racial Draft
* The Woodsman (2004)
* The Italian Job (2003)
* Brown Sugar (2002)
* Civil Brand (2002)
* Showtime (2002)
* Monster's Ball (2001)
* Carmen: A Hip Hopera (2001)
* Bamboozled (2000)
* Where's Marlowe? (1998)
In September 2011, Mos Def announced that he planned to use the name Yasiin Bey instead of Mos Def beginning in 2012.
http://www.myspace.com/mosdef
10 Rock 'N' Roll
Mos Def Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Huh) my great-grandmama was, from a plantation
They sang, songs for inspiration
They sang, songs for relaxation
They sang, songs, to take their minds up off that
Fucked up situation
I am, yes I am, the descendant (yes yes)
Of those folks whose, backs got broke
(black people!) chains on their ankles and feet
I am descendants, of the builders of your street
(Black people!) tenders to your cotton money
I am hip-hop
"It's heavy metal for the black people"
I am rock and roll (rock and roll, rock'n'roll)
Been here forever
They just ain't let you know (ha!)
I said, elvis presley ain't got no soul (huh)
Chuck berry is rock and roll (damn right)
You may dig on the rolling stones
But they ain't come up with that style on they own (uh-uh)
Elvis presley ain't got no soul (hell naw)
Little richard is rock and roll (damn right)
You may dig on the rolling stones
But they ain't come up with that shit on they own (nah-ah)
Guess that's just the way shit goes
You steal my clothes and try to say they yours (yes they do)
Cause it's a show filled with pimps and hoes
Trying to take everything that you made or control (there they go)
Elvis presley ain't got no soul
Bo diddley is rock and roll (damn right)
You may dig on the rolling stones
But they ain't the first place the credit belongs
Say whoa-oh (don't take it)
Oh-we-oh (black music)
Whoa-oh (don't take it)
Oh-we-oh (black music)
Whoa-oh (jimi hendrix say)
Oh-we-oh (black music)
Whoa-oh (albert king and)
Oh-we-oh (and motown)
I ain't trying to diss
But I don't be trying to fuck with limp bizkit ("the fuck is on your mind?")
When I get down in my zone
I be rockin bad brains and fishbone
I ain't tryin to slow your groove
But that ain't the way I'm trying to move
I don't turn on korn to get it on;
I be playing jimi hendrix 'til the dawn
That's my word is bond
Sitting up on my front lawn
Got the volume turned to ten
Playing albert king the best again (black)
When the morning in the cooker
Got to turn on some john lee hooker
When I want some rock and roll
Go to otis redding to get some soul
Say, james brown got plenty of soul
James brown like to rock and roll
He can do all the shit fo' sho'
That elvis presley could never know (black people)
Said, kenny g ain't got no soul
John coltrane is rock and roll (uh-huh)
You may dig on the rolling stones
But they could never ever rock like nina simone
Say whoa-oh (don't take it)
Oh-wee-oh (black music)
Whoa-oh (don't take it)
Oh-we-oh (black music)
Whoa-oh (don't take it)
Oh-we-oh (black music)
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Who am I, huh!
Get your punk ass up
Elvis presley ain't got no soul
Jimi hendrix is rock and roll
You may dig on the rolling stones
But everything they did they stole
Elvis presley ain't got no soul
Bo diddley is rock and roll
You may dig on the rolling stones
But we send their punk ass home
Who am I? (rock and roll)
Say, rock and roll!
Who am I? rock and roll!
Get your punk ass up
Company, move
For harlem, fort greene, compton
East st. louis, detroit (bo bo)
Chicago (bo bo) bed-stuy (bo bo)
Flatbush (bo bo) brownsville (bo bo)
East new york (bo bo) newark new jersey (bo bo)
Illadelphia cincinatti atlanta the dirty south
All towns get your punk ass up!
"Rock and roll for the black people"
Hi ma
The lyrics of the song "10 Rock 'N' Roll" by Mos Def are powerful and deeply insightful. In the first verse, he references his own personal history as a descendant of Native Americans and African Americans who have been oppressed throughout history, through slavery and confinement on reservations. He highlights the role that music played in their lives, as a source of inspiration and relaxation, but also as a way to distract themselves from their difficult circumstances.
In the second and third verses, Mos Def challenges the traditional narrative of rock and roll and its origins, arguing that many "legendary" white artists, such as Elvis Presley and The Rolling Stones, appropriated styles and sounds that were actually created by black artists, like Chuck Berry and Little Richard. He also references his own musical preferences, opting for original black artists like Jimi Hendrix and John Lee Hooker, and suggesting that the true soul of rock and roll lies in the work of black artists.
The chorus serves to emphasize the importance of black music, repeating the refrain "don't take it, black music" over and over. It's clear that Mos Def believes that the roots of rock and roll, and music in general, lie in black culture, and he is frustrated by the ways in which that culture has been appropriated, commodified, and stripped of its true meaning.
Line by Line Meaning
(Huh) my grandmomma was raised on a reservation
My grandmother grew up on a reservation as a Native American
(Huh) my great-grandmama was, from a plantation
My great-grandmother lived on a plantation as a slave.
They sang, songs for inspiration
They sang songs to lift their spirits.
They sang, songs for relaxation
They sang songs to unwind and relax.
They sang, songs, to take their minds up off that
They sang songs to distract themselves from their difficult circumstances.
Fucked up situation
Their living conditions were extremely challenging.
I am, yes I am, the descendant (yes yes)
I am a descendant of those who came before me.
Of those folks whose, backs got broke
My ancestors had to endure severe physical labor and hardship.
Who, fell down inside the gun smoke
My predecessors likely faced violence and dangerous situations in their lives.
(black people!) chains on their ankles and feet
Black people were often held in slavery and subjected to physical restraint.
I am descendants, of the builders of your street
My ancestors helped construct the buildings and infrastructure in your community.
(Black people!) tenders to your cotton money
Black people were responsible for picking cotton, which was a major source of profit for white slave owners.
I am hip-hop
I identify with the hip-hop genre of music and culture.
"It's heavy metal for the black people"
Hip-hop is a powerful and intense style of music that resonates with black people.
I am rock and roll (rock and roll, rock'n'roll)
I also identify with the rock and roll genre of music and culture.
Been here forever
Black people have been a part of rock and roll and music in general for a long time.
They just ain't let you know (ha!)
Perhaps the contributions of black people to rock and roll have gone unrecognized or underappreciated in the past.
I said, elvis presley ain't got no soul (huh)
Elvis Presley, while popular in rock and roll, did not have the same level of emotion or soul that some other musicians possessed.
Chuck berry is rock and roll (damn right)
Chuck Berry, a black artist, was a pioneer in the rock and roll genre.
You may dig on the rolling stones
The Rolling Stones are a popular rock band that many people enjoy listening to.
But they ain't come up with that style on they own (uh-uh)
However, their music is not entirely original and was likely influenced by other musicians, including black ones.
Little richard is rock and roll (damn right)
Little Richard was another black pioneer in rock and roll music.
Guess that's just the way shit goes
This is just the reality of the music industry and how certain artists are recognized or not.
You steal my clothes and try to say they yours (yes they do)
Sometimes, white artists may take inspiration from black culture and make it their own without proper recognition or appreciation.
Cause it's a show filled with pimps and hoes
The music industry can be superficial and focused on negative stereotypes and themes.
Trying to take everything that you made or control (there they go)
White people in power and the music industry may try to take over and control the contributions of black musicians.
Bo diddley is rock and roll (damn right)
Bo Diddley was another influential black musician in the rock and roll genre.
We send their punk ass home
Black people have made and continue to make contributions to rock and roll music despite being underrepresented or unrecognized.
James brown got plenty of soul
James Brown is a black musician who embodies the spirit and emotion in music known as soul.
John coltrane is rock and roll
John Coltrane, another black musician, was influential in the jazz and rock and roll genres.
But they could never ever rock like nina simone
Nina Simone was a unique and incredibly talented musician who pushed the boundaries of what rock and roll music could be.
Say whoa-oh (don't take it)
This chorus suggests a call to action to appreciate and recognize the contributions of black musicians.
Hi ma
This is a friendly shoutout to Mos Def's mother.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Lester Fernandez, Dante Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ajesam George
on Ms. Fat Booty
https://soundcloud.com/.../sudenly-by-da-george-prod-by...